27 June 2017

Can Tudose lead Romania out of the crisis?

Romania has a new prime minister after President Klaus Iohannis on Monday tasked Mihai Tudose, the outgoing economy minister, with forming a government. Tudose succeeds Sorin Grindeanu, who was toppled by his own party in a no-confidence vote. Many commentators see PSD leader Liviu Dragnea pulling the strings behind the coup to serve his own interests.

Dragnea's games continue

For Adevârul the new head of government is not much more than the puppet of PSD leader Dragnea:

“It's no coincidence that key politicians from the PSD shied away from the nomination. Because no one can be sure of their position, and everyone knows that the new prime minister could face the same fate as Sorin Grindeanu. Dragnea couldn't care less who leads the government because it's just a short mandate. What counts for him, however, is avoiding criminal proceedings. ... The only role [of Tudose's government] is to give the PSD leader a direct line to the executive.”

A bad choice

“The president had explained that he wanted a prime minister with a clean record. But how can a person who bought his doctoral thesis be untarnished? This is a classic example of cheating and dishonesty which is irreconcilable with the president's criteria. Moreover, the president wanted a competent prime minister. But what competences can Tudose claim to have after his two spells as minister? … According to his own criteria the president would have every reason to reject Tudose. Not for the sake of contesting the PSD's claim to forming the government, but in order to set a certain standard and at least be in conformity with his own stance.”